Filter and solids trap



Aug.29, 1944. 'v, I; 'sNow 2,356,953

FILTER AND SOLIDS TRAP Filed Jan. 31, 1942 INVENTOR VIRGIL L. SNOW f fi w ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATE FILTER AND SOLIDS TRAP Virgil L. Snow, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Euclid Road Machinery 00., Euclid, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 31, 1942, Serial No. 428,983

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a. filter and solids trap adapted for attachment at one side of a housing so as to receive the liquid to be filtered as it is thrown out by a part operating in the housing.

The objects and purposes of the present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing and description, but in general relate to the provision of a simple, compact device for removing solids from a liquid bath in a housing and wherein the solids removing device is fed by liquid thrown out of the housing by an operating part.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmental sectional view through a transmission housing equipped with my improved device; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

I have chosen to show my device as applied to the transmission housing of a motor vehicle which might be of many dilferent types, one of which is a dirt carryin vehicle provided with a hydraulically operated dumping body. Transmission housings of this type and other housings for moving parts operating in a liquid bath, such as oil, are subject to injury because of dirt, chips, grit and other foreign material which in one way or another finds its way into the liquid bath in the housing. This foreign material is circulated through the gears and bearings and causes premature failure of the working parts. The present invention deals with means for removing these solids from the liquid bath.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a portion of a transmission housing is indicated at I0 enclosing a countershaft II on which is fixed a gear I2. The housing is provided with at least one opening I3 through its outer wall and radially opposite the gear I2. In the present instance a second opening closed by the plate I4 is provided On the opposite side of the housing and radially opposite the gear. This is a customary structure in transmission housings of this type where these openings are provided for the connection of a power take-off to operate a pump for thehydraulic dumping mechanism or for some other such purpose. In these cases the gear I2 is a power takeoff gear provided for just such a connection. It will be understood however that my invention is not necessarily limited to this particular construction because if openings at I3 or I4 arenot provided by the manufacturer, such openings may be placed at a position where liquid from the bath will be thrown out by the operating mechanism so as to feed the solids removing device hereinafter disclosed.

Connected to the housing in communication with the opening I3 is a combined trap and filter chamber I5. This has an, imperforate top wall I5a, imperforate side walls I51), and an imperforate pocket I lying below the opening I 3. These parts are. all connected to a face plate I5d which is adapted to be bolted to the housing by bolts I 5 which in this case originally held a closure plate for the opening I3. This construction therefore provides a substitute closure for the opening l3.

A baflle plate I! extends across the pocket near the open top thereof and aids in preventing the return. of solids out of the pocket to the housing I0. ,Preferably means is provided .for the ready removal of solids from the pocket I50 and in the present case a plug l8 may be removed from the bottom of the pocket for this purpose.

A baflie means in the form of a perforate wall I9 is provided to close the lower portion of the opening I3 across the entire width of the trap chamber. In the present instance this is a fine screen secured in any suitable manner but here indicated as being welded to the face plate I5d along the sides and bottom of the screen.

In operation the gear I2 rotates in an oil bath in the housing I0, the normal level of which when the parts are at rest is slightly below the top of screen I9. Naturally when the gear is rotating oil is thrown out centrifugally in all directions and the pool of oil in the bottom of the housing is at a lower level. Oil thrown off by the gear I2 enters the chamber I5 probably very largely in the open space above the screen I9; The chamber is thus filled with oil carrying solids by the mere operation of the parts in the housing I0 without the necessity of providing an additional pump. Some of the heavier solids will immediately fall into the pocket I50. Other particles will be retained by the screen I9 as the oil flows back through this perforate wall into the housing. Due to the flow of the oil and the vibration of the parts, particles collected on the left-hand face of screen I9 as viewed in Fig. 1 will gradually find their way into the pocket I50. Any tendency for the smaller particles in the pocket to return with the oil into the housing It! is resisted by the baffle II.

An additional filtering effect is provided when the mechanism in the housing I 0 is alternately operating and at rest. During an idle period of the gear I2 the finer impurities which are in the oil in chamber l5 will settle down and lOdge in the trap below the baffle 11. Repeated cycles of this sort after a few hours will result in practically all of the oil in the. housing having had a chance to settle out in the chamber l5. This is the process that takes the finer materials out of the oil, wherea the separation occurring while the gear I2 is running removes the coarser particles, although if the screen I9 is of fine mesh, such as 120 wires to the inch which I have used, certain of' the finer particles are removed by the screen [9 at all times.

If a more thorough cleaning is desired than that provided by means of the plug [8 it is relatively easy to remove the bolts l6 and to thoroughly wash out the entire filter including the screen.

What I claim is:

. 1. In combination with a housing enclosing a rotatable member running in a liquid bath, said housing being provided with an opening through a wall thereof radially opposite said rotatable member, means providing a trap chamber outside said housing and communicating with said opening, and a foraminate wall across the lower portion of said opening, said housing and trap chamber compelling liquid passing out of said chamber to flow through said wall.

2. In combination with a transmission housing enclosing a power take-01f gear rotating in oil, said housing being provided with an opening radially opposite said gear for accommodating a power take-off, means providing a chamber attached to said housing outside said opening and forming a closure for said opening, said chamber having imperforate top, side, and rear walls and an imperforate pocket below said opening, said pocket being open at the top, and a perforate wall extending entirely across the lower portion of said opening.

3. In combination with a transmission housil'ig enclosing a power take-off gear rotating in oil, said housing being provided with an opening radially opposite said gear for accommodating a power take-off, means providing a chamber attached to said housing outside said opening and forming a closure for said opening, said chamber having imperforate top, side, and rear walls and an imperforate pocket below said opening, said pocket being open at the top, baflle means in the upper portion of said pocket to aid in retaining solids in said pocket, and a perforate wall extending entirely across the lower portion of said open. 1

4. The combination with a transmission'havirlg a casing with an opening, a hollow shell adapted to fit over said opening and outside said casing and having an aperture therein adapted to register with said opening in said casin a screen extending across the lower portion of said aperture whereby lubricating oil and foreign bodies in said casing may pass into said shell through the top portion of said aperture and the lubricating oil may flow out through the lower portion thereof while said screen retain said foreign bodies, a clean out opening in said shell, a removable plug normally closing said drain opening, and means for fastening said shell to said casing over its side opening.

5. The combination with a transmission having a. casing with an opening, a hollow shell adapted to fit over said opening and outside said casing and having an aperture therein adapted to register with said opening in said casing, and a screen extending across the lower portion of said aperture whereby lubricating oil and foreign bodies in said casing may pass into said shell through the top portion of said aperture and the lubricating oil may flow out through the lower portion thereof while said screen retains said foreign bodies.

VIRGIL L. SNOW. I 

